LEGEND OF SEAU LIVES ON

Football icon died a year ago after a storied career, but he left a lasting impression on all that met him

It has been one year since legendary former San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau died. Over the past couple months, we talked to numerous people and asked them for their memories.

Here are some snippets from those conversations. For the complete interviews, go to
utsandiego.com.

Billy Ray Smith, former Seau teammate and local sports talk radio host

“One of the greatest football players from the beginning. He was NFL-ready the day he stepped out on the field with a Chargers helmet on.”

Alfredo Paredes, president of (USC) Trojan Club of San Diego

“For anybody that was born and raised in San Diego, to have this guy come back to his hometown and play for his home team, that is very rare to have that happen. It was very special for the local folks and it was a really a nice draw into the stadium. And then to see his success, it was a trifecta for the folks that were local. It was almost a fairy tale start.”

Dave Barrett, Oceanside High assistant football coach

“He just kept getting better. It is one of those things, I think with someone like Junior you expect them to be great. I don’t think it was really surprising that he was great because he always had that skill and desire. But when you’ve seen a player since he was a young man, it is still a little strange. You think back about who he was and you see who he has become and it is still a little strange. It was such a joy to watch Junior, not only in 1992 but his entire career.”

Jill Lieber Steeg, sports journalist

“It’s amazing to me to see this kid, with all his drive and heart and soul, was able to transform himself from a kid in a garage to USC to playing for the Chargers — and somehow always be able to maintain the Oceanside kid plus the little Samoan kid who grew up in a garage inside himself.”

Dale Lindsey, USD football coach

“The guy had fantastic instincts. He had great talent and was a great competitor. He could mess up and recover better than the rest of his team.”

Tony Gwynn, Padres Hall of Famer

“Junior wanted to win. And I think more than anything he wanted to be that guy who brought a championship home to San Diego.”

Dianne Jacob, San Diego County Supervisor

“The Chargers need more Junior Seaus.”

Bob Wick, Chargers head equipment manager

“He treated you politely, he treated you well. He was very nice, too, if you needed anything from him on his end. Like if you needed signed balls or football cards or anything, he was so accommodating for that. He did it with a smile on his face.”

Hank Bauer, Chargers radio color analyst

“What made this great was Seau was the team leader. Everything that happened Junior felt personally responsible for.”

Chuck Liddell, former UFC light-heavyweight champion

“Junior was one of those guys that if you were out there he was trying to hurt you. Anybody on the other team he was going after you, trying to hit you, playing hard. He had that fighter instinct. That killer instinct you have in a fighter, where you see blood and you go.”

Dean Spanos, Chargers executive president and CEO

“He always came with that same positive attitude. Everybody saw it. That is why they respected him so much. I think that speaks a lot to his legacy in itself. Just his attitude. Nothing could turn it in a different direction.”

Drew Brees, former Chargers and current Saints quarterback

“That meant a lot for me, as a young guy, coming from a guy like that who was the leader of the team, a future Hall of Famer. For a young guy who needed that confidence, to know that guys believed in him and that kind of thing — that was big for me.”

Bill Johnston, Chargers director of public relations

“He just made an impression the first time you met him. I’ve known Junior since before we drafted him and he never changed. He was a people person and he just loved being around people. I think that is what attracted so many people to him.”

Scott Kaplan, U-T TV host and local sports radio host

“The day that Junior was going to be let go (from the Chargers), the city of San Diego — this was the biggest story going.”

Dave Hyde, South Florida Sun-Sentinel sports columnist

“That’s the type of personality Junior brought. Great plays on the field, sure. But especially in 2004, he brought the team together with his great personality.”

John Lynch Jr., former NFL player

“He just wasn’t the same as everybody else. We would go and do this hellacious workout, but we couldn’t feel that good about it because we still had to lift. We were behind. Junior just wanted to be the best in everything he did.”

“In a sense, they’re (the Patriots) still looking for his type of replacement.”

Bill Belichick, Patriots coach

“He was just an outstanding leader and a very instinctive player as he had been his entire career. So he earned the respect of everyone in the organization. He was a big asset to our football team.”

Robert Kraft, Patriots owner

“I used to sit in the back of the room sometimes just so I could hear him speak.”

Stephen Neal, former Patriots offensive lineman

“His pregame speeches were just something that, you know, you’d get in there and start looking forward to what Junior is going to say today. Because it was always different and it was always motivational. And as soon as he’d talk you’d run out there like warriors before battle. It was pretty cool.”